Knee Deep in the Atlantic (1981)

Knee Deep in the Atlantic
Pentagram Press
Markesan, WI
(c)1981

The beautifully made chapbook was a promotional item for Pentagram Press, featuring 4 poets who were part of "the extended Pentagram Press family"; Linda Parker, Michael Tarachow, Robie Liscomb, and Theodore Enslin. The book contained small colorful images by Bonnie Stillman. Hand sewn. Just an exquisite item. Extremely collectible and rare (only 164 copies printed) in 1981.

poems of Mallarme by Brian Coffey (1990)

Poems of Mallarme
Brian Coffey
New Writers Press
Dublin, Ireland
The Menard Press
London, England
(c)1990

Oversized staple-bound chapbook. 34 pages. Bilingual Edition. Mallarme was a visionary poet who anticipated several 20th century movements (Dadaism, Surrealism, Futurism) as well as through use of typography laid the foundation for Concrete Poetry roughly 50 years after he began his own experimentations. In that sense, this book is a sampling - a tease of the range and scope of Mallarme. A first bite from the fruit. An introduction to his work.

It succeeds in that, but does not include any of his typographic works. His breath-taking and breakthrough piece, A Throw of the Dice, itself could be this book. Laid out in a manner not seen since it's original French appearance, perhaps. This collection is worthwhile but not stunning. A viewing of Mallarme's work should attempt to be stunning. Nonetheless worthwhile.

The Pilgrim Story by William Franklin Atwood (1958)

The Pilgrim Story
William Franklin Atwood
The Memorial Press
Plymouth, MA
(c)1958

Originally published in 1940, this oft-reprinted staple-bound book was illustrated by Leo Schreiber. The lengthy sub-title of this books is "Being Largely a Compilation From the Documents of Governor Bradford and Governor Winslow, Severally and in Collaboration; Together With a List of Mayflower Passengers." 76 pages. Has two pages of period ads in back of book.They are priceless in themselves.

A very good history of the time of the landing in Plymouth of the original Puritans. For those interested in this history, this is a fine document.

journals by Jeff Nuttall (1968)

Journals Jeff Nuttall Unicorn Bookshop Brighton, England (c)1968 Unpaginated, staple-bound, oversized chapbook from early in the career of this multifaceted artist. Jeff Nuttall was every bit a renaissance man and this unique chapbook attests to. The drawings are incredible. His body of work was overwhelming. Most of these entries were written in 1967. Rare in itself. Worth the search, a treasure to behold.

second avenue by Frank O'Hara(1960)

Second Avenue
Frank O'Hara
Totem/Corinth
New York, New York
(c)1960

Unpaginated staple-bound chapbook with cover art by Larry Rivers. A must for collectors of O'Hara. The interesting thing about this particular copy is that the gutter of the book is so centered that someone missed that the text on the last page of text has been cut off (the text went beyond the page!) A printer's error. It's the little things that make the biggest difference, all the same.

Consists of a single poem, In Memory of Vladimir Mayakovsky.

Blennerhassett Island and the Burr Conspiracy by Norris Schneider (1966)

Blennerhassett Island and the Burr Conspiracy
Norris F. Schneider
The Ohio Historical Society
Columbus, Ohio
(c)1966 - 4th edition, 2nd printing.

36 page staple-bound chapbook of well researched episode of US history dealing with the attempted political coup led by Aaron Burr. Fascinating reading. Well worth the find.

Dendrochronology by Greta Goetz (2009)

Dendrochonology Greta Goetz Ugly Duckling Presse Brooklyn, NY (c)2009 Oversized chapbook. 30 pages. Hand-sewn. The text is underwhelmed by the cover. The text should complain to management. It's a better book than was presented. Disappointed.

The involuntary Whispering of a Shuffling Box by Tom Katisimpalis (2000)

The Involuntary Whispering of a Shuffling Box
Tom Katsimpalis
Vanish Press
Fort Collins, CO
(c)2000

This is an interesting and complex chapbook, a wedding of text with image. The exact type of chapbook that I look for. Designed by Becky Hawley Design, this book is a beautiful example of what can happen when a poet has a visual element and when a visual artist has a text to work with. This is an artist book with text. Vellum flyleaf. Wood cuts or ink drawings on every page. Different fonts for every poem. This is an amazing and unexpected find.

I have never heard of Mr. Katsimpalis before and Vanish Press seems to have vanished as well but Katsimpalis now runs a company called Muse Consulting out of the same address listed in the book, so the active mind behind this book is still alive and creating in Fort Collins. It's a very complete chapbook and worth the look (there were 500 copies of this chapbook made, I have copy #60)

Sonnets by Elizabeth Marie Young (2008)

Sonnets
Elizabeth Marie Young
Omahrahu/WATT
(c)2008

Handsomely made, hand-sewn chapbook. Unpaginated. Letter-pressed cover. Small collection of sonnets. Worth the find, and the read

Dear Failures by Trey Sager (2011)

Dear Failures
Trey Sager
Ugly Duckling Presse
Brooklyn, NY
(c)2011

This is yet another finely produced chapbook by Ugly Duckling Press. Letter-pressed and hand-sewn. Quite lovely indeed. Each poem begins "Dear...." as though addressing some person or prototype. In addition to being weary of the "first person singular" in each poem, I see here an example of 2nd or 3rd generation New York School poetics (the mangled ghost of Frank O'Hara whisks by). "I did this and I did that" poetry. Referential and self-referential. Boring and supremely boring. Besides some interesting phrases throughout, the poems are empty sieves.

Sky Scrapers by Geraldine Monk (2010)

Sky Scrapers
Geraldine Monk
fewer & further press
Wendell, Mass
(c)2010

What is it about some micro-to-small presses that leads them to republish works 20 years older still and originally printed in, say, England? Geraldine Monk is a much published British poet whose work here is reprinted from her 1985 collection by the same title, published originally by Galloping Dog Press. This version is an oddly sized book resembling the dimensions of a sky scraper.

fewer & further press is/was a Boston-area based press which, according to their own blog, seems to have run out of steam in 2010 (there are no blog entries since March 24, 2010 - one can draw their own conclusions)

The work is thought provoking and good. The book is handsomely made. It's worth looking for. Of course, I would like to see the 1985 original for comparison sake, but..... that's me.

two versions of the same book (Brandon Brown)

Wondrous Things I Have Seen
Brandon Brown
Big Game Books
Washington, D. C.
(c)2008

Wondrous Things I Have Seen
Brandon Brown
Mitzvah Chaps
Lawrence, KS
(c)2010

I have not seen this before : two small chapbooks for the same small collection of poems. From two different publishers, with two different covers. The Text in each book is differently presented. The Big Game tiny-chap is an accordion while the Mitzvah Chap is hand-sewn. Odd to have two of the same, or not-quite same, text make it into two different chapbooks. Something new to record.

I am familiar with the Big Game Book "operation" in Washington and am fortunate to have scored something published by them as it seems they have gone into permanent hiatus, while the Mitzvah Chap is new to me and will need further research. The author has gone on to greater success, ain't life grand?

Auspices by Cid Corman (1978)

Auspices
Cid Corman
Pentagram Press
Milwaukee, WI
(c)1979

Hand-sewn chapbook. 15 pages. #187 of 210 copies made. Letter-pressed, handmade paper. Beautiful little chapbook.

I was read the biography posted on the Poetry Foundation website for Cid Corman and it talks about how "all of his books are slender ones". In this case, that is true enough. 15 poems long. Each page: a poem. I have mentioned Pentagram Press in the past, they were an exceptional little outfit. This is an exceptional little chapbook!

Your Own Ox-head Mask as Proof by George Kalamaras

Your Own Ox-head Mask as Proof
George Kalamaras
Ugly Ducking Presse
Brooklyn, NY
(c)2010

Unpaginated chapbook, slightly oversized. Hand-sewn. Interesting poetry from the ever interesting Ugly Duckling Presse. Find and read!

Among the Living by J. F. Connolly (2006)

Among the Living
J. F. Connolly
The Comstock Writers' Group
Syracuse, NY
(c)2006

Winner of the 2006 The Comstock Review Jessie Bryce Niles Award.

Staple-bound chapbook. This chapbook seems to validate two points that I often make about chapbooks. #1 - quotes by poets on the back of books does not guarantee success. Especially if the poets quoted are as regional as the poet in question. Get outside of that region and few people care. #2 - regional poetry often does not hold up outside of the region where the book/Press/poet is from.

Another Ordinary Day by Subhankar Das (2011)

Another Ordinary Day
Subhankar Das
Ten Pages Press
(c)2011

This thin chapbook was "published" as an e-book in 2011. I have no recollection how it landed in my stash. Considering the poet lives in Kolkata, India where he runs the Graffiti Kolkata bookstore, it isn't like he knocked on my door one day and hand-delivered it to me. Perhaps in my overactive dreamworld he did, but not in the waking hours.

12 pages, staple-bound. Cover drawing. The poetry is very nice and as I am writing this I am listening to a Ravi Shankar raga randomly selected for me by itunes. Very interesting indeed.

UPDATE: It was sent to me by a poet/friend of mine! Okay, that mystery is solved.

84 Card Tricks by Hugh Morris

84 Card Tricks
Hugh Morris
D. Robbins & Co., INc.
New York, NY

(c)1936

(c)1964

Before poets embraced the chapbook form, hustlers and low-lifes and ne'erdowells were quite abundant in creating inexpensive booklets to promote, to educate, to inform, and to (sometimes) distract the reading public. Not being a card shark, I am more interested in this item as a FORM instead of delving into the merits of its worth. But the image is awesome and if I were interested in 84 card tricks, I would love to have this chapbook.

ground water by paul cultrera (1978)

ground water
Paul Cultrera
Fathom Press
Chicago, IL
(c)1978

There are a few small presses that interest me enough to collect and write about them often. One of those is the under-appreciated Fathom Press as run by Robie Liscomb. The work of Fathom is as good as any I have seen/held in my hands/put on my shelves. During an exchange with Robie I had last summer, he outlined in the broadest (vaguest) strokes a history of Fathom. He also was kind enough to entrust me with a wonderful packet of Fathom and related chapbooks from which I have been ever so slowly been drawing. ground water is the most recent nibble.

Coming in at the unusual dimensions of 10.5" X 6.75", this hand-sewn chapbook is a wonderful example of the work created by Robie Liscomb (with help by Paul Cultrera). Made during the Fall & Winter 1977-78 in Chicago, IL, this chapbook was printed on Rives papers. Fathom was linked to Pentagram Press, with Michael Tarachow and others. Their works appear on each other's imprint. More to come!

In you enjoy this blog, you might enjoy....

Mimeo Mimeo, the wonderful journal about the intersection of art books and the mimeograph revolution. Jed Birmingham and Kyle Schlesinger have done a marvelous job putting together the publication and the blog. It's a bit more academic than what I present, but it's in the same universe. Give it a whirl.

In Place & Out by Michael Tarachow

In Place & Out
Michael Tarachow
Pentagram Press
Markesan, Wisconsin
(c) 1982

Full disclosure : I am also the head of Plan B Press.

The reason I bring that up is that one can tell a good deal about the journeys of a small press by what's listed on the title page. In our case, that would include addresses in Leola, PA, Philadelphia, and Alexandria, VA.

Pentagram Press moved more frequently than many a Press. This beautifully crafted, hand-sewn chapbook was produced in the small town of Markesan, Wisconsin in early spring 1982. The poet & published Robie Liscomb gave me a bit of a "virtual tour" of the Press when we corresponded last summer, but it's fair to say that they produced books in nearly every location where they settled for any length of time. There are graphics between each poem, and these were expertly done by Vickie Burton. The copy I possess is #106 of 123 made. Signed by both poet and illustrator.

This is a bloody gorgeous chapbook. Hand-made paper, attention to detail throughout. Just amazing. Printed by someone named Rich Hopkins (who lived in Markesan, perhaps?) at his Hill & Dale Typefoundry. Quite the collector's item.